Lid-supporting device.



Patented 00f. 2|, I902.

J n 9 W 0 N LID SUPPORTING DEVICE.

(Application filed. Jan. 11, 1902.)

(No Model.)

mam: Fn'zfls 00.. morourua, WASHINGTON. a, c.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. BUTCHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO M. II. JOHNSON, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

LlD-SUPPORTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 711,890, dated October 21, 1902.

A lication filed January 11, 1902. Serial No. 89,328. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. BUTCHER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago,in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lid-Supporting Devices; and I do declare the following to .be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in lid-supporting devices, more especially intended for nsein connection with cigar-boxes, but which may be employed in connection with other boxes or receptacles of similar construction.

My object is to provide a device of this class adapted to support the lid in the open position when suitably inclined to display a label to view upon which the price of the cigars contained in the box is indicated, the label being held in place by the said device.

My further object is to provide a device which shall be exceedingly simple in construction, economical in cost, reliable, durable,

and thoroughly practicable in use; and to these ends the invention consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a cigar-box, showing my improved device applied, the lid being open. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the box with the lid open and the device in place and on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device still further enlarged.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the device as a whole, which comprises a part 5, adapted to engage the inner surface of the top of the lid, a part 5, adapted to engage the outer surface of the lid-top, a right-angled bend 5, connecting the two parts 5 and 5 and engaging the rear edge of the lid when the device is in use, and a part 5 bent outwardly from the part 5 and forming a depending member when the lid is open, whose free edge engages the rear wall of the box on the outside (see Fig. 2) and supports the lid in the inclined position. As shown in the drawings, the free edge of the part 5 is toothed. This feature is not necessary, however, as the device willproperly perform its function if this edge is plain or untoothed.

The device is applied to the lid from the rear when the latter is slightly open, the device being held in position with the part 5 projecting upwardly. The part 5 is passed between the lid and the upper edge of the rear wall of the box and moved forwardly until the bend 5 engages the rear edge of the lid. The part 5 then engages the upper surface of the lid, and the part 5 projects upwardly. When the lid is open, the parts will be in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The label 7, containing the price of the cigars, is then slipped between the part 5 and the inner surface of the lid, where it is held in place in view of customers. The part 5 is so thin that it does not interfere with the closing of the box-lid in the usual manner.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is 1. Abox-lid-supporting device comprising two parallel parts adapted to embrace the opposite surfaces of the lid, a bend connecting the two parts and adapted to engage the hinged edge of the lid, and a part projecting outwardly from one edge of one of the parallel parts and at right angles thereto, the free edge of the said projecting part being adapted to engage the vertical rear wall of the box when the lid is open, substantially as described.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a lid-supporting device formed from a single piece of metal and comprising two parallel parts adapted to engage the upper and lower surfaces of the lid when the latter is closed, a right-angular bend connecting said parts at one extremity and engaging the rear edge of the lid, and a part projecting outwardly from and at right angles to one edge of the parallel part engaging the lower surface of the lid, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. BUTCHER.

Witnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN, DENA NELSON. 

